Electrohydraulic valves for use in a system

Abstract

Electrohydraulic valves for use in high fluid pressure systems such as automotive anti-skid brake systems, power steering systems and machine tool systems comprising a valve body of magnetic material, a valve seat member of magnetic material having a non-magnetic insert defining the seat and a coil surrounding a portion of the valve body and the valve seat adapted to be controlled by a microcomputer to provide pulses to a ball positioned between the valve seats and thereby control the flow through the valve. In one form the valve includes a second set of opposed valve seats, a second ball, and a second coil. In each form, a sleeve surrounds the valve seats and the balls and hydraulically isolates them from the coil associated therewith.

I claim: 
     
       1. An electrohydraulic valve comprising: a first body of magnetic material,   said first body defining a first sealing seat at one end,   said first body having an inlet passage therein extending to said first seat,   said first body having a passage from said one end to the exterior thereof,   a second body of magnetic material having a first end and a second end,   a non-magnetic insert in said first end of said second body defining a second seat,   a ball of magnetic material interposed between said first and second seats,   said non-magnetic insert having an opening from said second seat and said second body having a passage extending from said opening in said insert to the second end of said second body,   a sleeve of non-magnetic material surrounding said first and second seats and said ball and being hydraulically sealed to said first body and said second body,   an electric coil surrounding said sleeve,   said second body having a separate radial ring flange,   a canister of magnetic material surrounding said coil and said sleeve and connected directly to said flange and said first body to define a magnetic flux path,   said sleeve being positioned out of the primary path of said magnetic flux through the one end of the first body, the ball, and the first end of said second body, the radial flange of said second body, said canister, and back to said first body without substantially intersecting said sleeve.   
     
     
       2. The electrohydraulic valve set forth in claim 1 including spring means yieldingly urging said ball toward one of said seats. 
     
     
       3. The electrohydraulic valve set forth in claim 2 wherein said spring means urges said ball toward said second seat. 
     
     
       4. The electrohydraulic valve set forth in claim 1 wherein said second seat is a non-sealing seat. 
     
     
       5. An electrohydraulic valve comprising: a first body of magnetic material,   said first body defining a first sealing seat at one end,   said first body having an inlet passage therein extending to said first seat,   said first body having a passage from said one end to the exterior thereof,   a second body of magnetic material having a first end and a second end,   a non-magnetic insert in said first end of said second body defining a second seat,   a ball of magnetic material interposed between said first and second seats,   said non-magnetic insert having an opening from said second seat and said second body having a passage extending from said opening in said insert to the second end of said second body,   a sleeve of non-magnetic material surrounding said first and second seats and said ball and being hydraulically sealed to said first body and said second body,   an electric coil surrounding said sleeve,   said second body having a separate radial ring flange,   a canister of magnetic material surrounding said coil and said sleeve and connected directly to said flange and said first body to define a magnetic flux path,   said second body defining a third seat at the other end thereof,   a third body of magnetic material having one end supporting a second non-magnetic insert defining a fourth seat opposite said third seat, said second non-magnetic insert and said third body having communicating openings extending to the exterior of said third body,   a second ball of magnetic material interposed between said third and fourth seats,   a sleeve of non-magnetic material surrounding said third or fourth seats and said second ball and being hydraulically sealed to said second body and said third body,   a second electric coil surrounding said second sleeve,   a second canister of magnetic material surrounding said second coil and said second sleeve and connected directly to said flange and said third body to define a magnetic flux path.   
     
     
       6. The electrohydraulic valve set forth in claim 9 including spring means yieldingly urging said first-mentioned ball toward said second seat and spring means yieldingly urging said second ball toward said fourth seat. 
     
     
       7. The electrohydraulic valve set forth in claim 10 wherein said second seat is a non-sealing seat.